This is the story of my Great Uncle Perry as told to me by my mother before she died. Perry was tall and very handsome with his green eyes and dark hair. He had three older brothers and four older sisters. He was named after his father. My mothers mother,Iva, was one of his older sisters. Perry was very much loved by all in the family, being the last child born.

Tragically he died at about twenty one years of age. I felt so badly that Uncle Perry died so young before he could marry and experience happiness in his life. My mother told me that he had met a lovely young lady and they were to be wed. They were very much in love and very happy for such a short time. She was seventeen and he was nineteen when they first met and fell in love. Just a few days past her eighteenth birthday came Halloween. On this Halloween they were both invited to a party. There was dancing and games and lots of laughter and fun. Perry and his lovely Eileen had many friends.

Late that night, around midnight, Perry and Eileen decided to leave the party and walk home. They had to go through a dark wooded area to get to their homes. Now this night, being that it was Halloween, Perry and Eileen's friends decided it would be fun to play a joke and leap out and scare the couple. There were three fellows. One covered himself up with a white sheet. They followed Perry and Eileen quietly, until they were deep within the dark woods. Suddenly one of the boys, hidden by the sheet, jumped out in front of them with a wicked moan. Eileen screamed and fainted in Perry's arms. All the boys laughed except Perry, who was deeply concerned about Eileen. Perry patted Eileen's face to bring her around as she lay still and lifeless. Then he called her name softly, then loudly. Still no response. Fear gripped his heart as he began to shake her wildly. Then all the laughter stopped as Perry felt for a pulse and couldn't find one. His beloved Eileen had died from fright. Her heart had stoped. He carried her the rest of the way home, sobbing. They were all crying. Perry held no hard feelings against his friends because he was a very forgiving person.

Perry was never the same after Eileen's death. He became very ill. His father took him to England to try to help him forget and go on with his life. They took a voyage by ship. Perry became worse as time passed and at age twenty one he died. His father was at his bedside the day he died and he said that Perry died with a smile on his face. He was calling Eileen's name. I like to believe that his beloved Eileen came to greet him at his death and that he is now happy and together with his love.

Copyright © 2000 Connie Marcum Wong